California Fault Stress Hits Highest Level in 1,000 Years
Summary
New research shows that stress along key fault lines in Southern California is at its highest level in the past 1,000 years. This raises concerns about the chance of large earthquakes, especially near the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults and the Cajon Pass area.Key Facts
- Scientists from the University of Hawaiʻi studied the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults in Southern California.
- Stress on these faults is at or above levels seen in the last 1,000 years.
- The Cajon Pass area acts like an “earthquake gate,” sometimes stopping an earthquake from spreading and sometimes allowing it to cross both faults.
- A rupture affecting both faults could cause a much larger earthquake impacting cities like Los Angeles and Riverside.
- The study used a computer model based on 1,000 years of earthquake records from geology and tree rings.
- It has been more than 160 years since the last major earthquake on these fault systems.
- The research can help improve earthquake risk assessments and planning for emergency preparedness and building safety.
- The modeling method could be used for other fault systems around the world.
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